The Bible often draws its stories from the ordinary and here is Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem and notices a fig tree.
He goes over to it to see if there is any fruit to eat. Noticing there is no fruit amidst the leaves, he says, may you never bear fruit again! And, at that instant, the fig tree withered.
Interestingly, the same story is related in Mark 11:12-14. The extra detail there is that in verse 13 it says that it was too early in the season for fruit.
So why would Jesus be so harsh on the poor fig tree for having no fruit?
Well, as a city person, I have no knowledge of fig trees. But I do have the internet and a quick search got me to the California Rare Fruit Growers information page about figs.
Also, here is a web page devoted to Figs in Israel!
Image source: http://home.planters.net/~thegivans/israel/sbayi1-le-a.jpg
Anyway, if I am reading it correctly, there are two fruits seasons. The leaves fall off in the fall (of course) of the previous season. And then the first crop of figs grow out before leaves come out in the spring and summer. A second crop of figs grow out as the trees are in full leaf to be harvested in the fall. If you are a fig farmer reading this post, please let me know if I got this right!
Thus, when Mark says it is too early for figs, he is referring to the second crop of figs for the fall. However, a leafy fig tree may still have figs from that first crop. And perhaps, that is what Jesus is looking for.
But is this passage just about agriculture?
I think it maybe a metaphor for judgment. Jesus expected some kind of fruit on the fig tree. Upon not finding any, judgment fell on the fig tree swiftly.
And so it is in our lives: we don't know how long we have to live on this earth and the time when we have to make an accounting of our lives before God is not knowable to us.
Lord, have mercy on me a sinner! Help me to draw near to you that I may be fruit bearing. Fruit that others can partake of for the refreshment of their spiritual health and enjoyment. Amen!
UPDATE: Was reading some books that analyze this Bible passage and I came across another explanation. The time figs can be found on the fig trees is usually when there are leaves. However, the time when leaves pour forth from fig trees is not the same from year to year.
Those who have seen the famed Jefferson Memorial Cherry Blossoms of Washington DC know that there is year-to-year variation of the blooms.
Image source: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/cms/uploads/pics/blossom_watch.jpeg
Perhaps the fig tree in the Gospel is having an early bloom; thus, when Mark records it is too early, he means it was unusual to see so many leaves (and thus potential for fig fruits) at that time of year.
Would the point of the incident be any different with this explanation?
I don't think so. The bottom line is that the incident is an object lesson on how judgment falls.
One of my friends told me what he thought of the passage. He mentioned that this incident is happening near Jerusalem. Perhaps, the disciples could even see Jerusalem in the distance. The judgment that fell upon the fig tree would be a haunting image to them because they would see Jerusalem sacked in 70 AD which would be about 40 years after the life and times of Jesus.
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